--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To get what we want we must be subtle as…" description: "\"“To get what we want we must be subtle as snakes; more deadly, more cunning, more patient, more mean. Think of the serpent, how it slithers through the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/chris-stewart-27405_free-agency_to-get-what-we-want-we-must-be-subtle-as_2599894.jpg" --- # To get what we want we must be subtle as snakes; more… ![“To get what we want we must be subtle as snakes; more deadly, more cunning, more patient, more mean. Think of the serpent, how it slithers through the garden. It's such a beautiful creature, slow and delicate, rarely seen but effective, low, and not loved, but gloriously efficient! The serpent is…” quote by Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/chris-stewart-27405_free-agency_to-get-what-we-want-we-must-be-subtle-as_2599894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/chris-stewart-27405_free-agency_to-get-what-we-want-we-must-be-subtle-as_2599894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/chris-stewart-27405_free-agency_to-get-what-we-want-we-must-be-subtle-as_2599894.jpg) > ““To get what we want we must be subtle as snakes; more deadly, more cunning, more patient, more mean. Think of the serpent, how it slithers through the garden. It's such a beautiful creature, slow and delicate, rarely seen but effective, low, and not loved, but gloriously efficient! The serpent is now our model; we must pattern our work after him. So go to your old friends and stand by their sides. Pretend you want to help them while whispering deceits in their ears. Only lie when you have to. Speak the truth when you can; for the truth, once it's twisted, is the most effective tool we have. Coat your lies with enough truth, and they will swallow it down. Now listen to me, people, for this is the key - evil can be twisted into virtue if you phrase it just right. Any vice is acceptable if you cloak it as an issue of freedom. Any immorality is worth fighting for it you tell them they are fighting for choice, if you wrap it in the mantle of privacy and freedom. So take their moral agency and turn it on them. But be patient. . . be patient. . . it takes time to turn the truth upside down.”” [Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Manipulation can be framed as virtue by cloaking deceit in truth and appealing to liberty, but it erodes trust. **In simple terms:** Evil can be hidden as virtue. Key Takeaway Beware of rhetoric that disguises manipulation. Themes manipulation ethics truth freedom deception Mood cautious critical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigning - marketing - activism - personal influence Key Concepts psychology propaganda morality strategic communication Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern genuine truth from twisted narratives? - What safeguards protect against manipulative persuasion? A Different Perspective Such tactics can cause long‑term societal harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-agency/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Old friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-friends/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Love is the key we must turn, truth is the flame we must burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/love-is-the-key-we-must-turn-truth-is-the-flame-we-must-burn/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [We all have different integrity. Truth can be twisted into facts as much as lies can seem as truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-polydor/we-all-have-different-integrity-truth-can-be-twisted-into-facts-as/) [Steve Polydor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-polydor/) > [The truth becomes twisted when people add their own opinions to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-farmer/the-truth-becomes-twisted-when-people-add-their-own-opinions-to-it/) [Joseph Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-farmer/) > [“I’m listening now, Kelly,” he forced out. “Tell me what happened. I’ll believe you. I swear.” But he knew. He already knew. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-m-listening-now-kelly-he-forced-out-tell-me-what-happened-i-ll/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [This twisted mockery of a relationship, when in fact it is only addictive to the senses. 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Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“The Reformation is one root of the idea of human freedom and autonomy as it is represented in modern democracy. However, while this aspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-reformation-is-one-root-of-the-idea-of-human-freedom-and-autonomy/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I will not become a Napoleon nor an Alexander, and labour for my own ambition; but I will labour for freedom and for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajos-kossuth/i-will-not-become-a-napoleon-nor-an-alexander-and-labour-for-my-own/) [Lajos Kossuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajos-kossuth/) > [Because we are free we can never be indifferent to the fate of freedom elsewhere. Our moral sense dictates a clearcut preference for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/because-we-are-free-we-can-never-be-indifferent-to-the-fate-of/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Kant thinks that a free will is a will under moral laws and that freedom and the moral law are distinct thoughts that reciprocally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-thinks-that-a-free-will-is-a-will-under-moral-laws-and-that/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Let your cry be for free souls rather than for freedom. Moral liberty is the only important liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/let-your-cry-be-for-free-souls-rather-than-for-freedom-moral-liberty/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Unless the will is free, man has no freedom; and if he has no freedom he is not a moral agent, that is, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-grandison-finney/unless-the-will-is-free-man-has-no-freedom-and-if-he-has-no-freedom/) [Charles Grandison Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-grandison-finney/) > [Freedom does not mean that right to do whatever we please, but rather to do as we ought. The right to do whatever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/freedom-does-not-mean-that-right-to-do-whatever-we-please-but-rather/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More by Chris Stewart > [“Your salvation would be hollow if you don't help each other come home. Remember we are family, and families leave no one behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stewart/your-salvation-would-be-hollow-if-you-don-t-help-each-other-come-home/) [Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) > [“like this for perhaps twenty-five years, and I hadn’t exactly been an ace back then. I found myself looking down a vast, broken plain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stewart/like-this-for-perhaps-twenty-five-years-and-i-hadn-t-exactly-been-an/) [Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) > [“He pulled the tiller and shouted the words, "Ready about ... LEE HO!" I stared at him incredulously. What sort of things was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stewart/he-pulled-the-tiller-and-shouted-the-words-ready-about-lee-ho-i/) [Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) > [“In the time you will live, there will be heroes around. 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But only a few, only a few special men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stewart/all-men-will-die-all-men-will-be-called-upon-to-pass-through-the-veil/) [Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) > [I'm not as convinced as a lot of people are that man-made climate change is the threat they think it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stewart/i-m-not-as-convinced-as-a-lot-of-people-are-that-man-made-climate/) [Chris Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) [Explore all 20 Chris Stewart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stewart/) ## More Free agency quotes > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/) Lindsey Rietzsch > [It's kind of tough as you're playing you kind of wonder what is going to happen to you as you go through arbitration or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/it-s-kind-of-tough-as-you-re-playing-you-kind-of-wonder-what-is-going/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [“I say this because all religions, accurately understood, will take away your fear of not being enough. I believe there is a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/i-say-this-because-all-religions-accurately-understood-will-take-away/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others' choices make us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/intentional-living-is-the-art-of-making-our-own-choices-before-others/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“God gave us free agency, and then gave us the commandments to keep us free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-b-demille/god-gave-us-free-agency-and-then-gave-us-the-commandments-to-keep-us/) [Cecil B. DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-b-demille/) > [I think free agency is something you earn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-arenado/i-think-free-agency-is-something-you-earn/) [Nolan Arenado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-arenado/) > [“You can overcome your circumstances or you can let your circumstances overcome you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/you-can-overcome-your-circumstances-or-you-can-let-your-circumstances/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [I think free agency changed the league more than the money. Teams had to build better facilities, coaches had to develop more personal relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/i-think-free-agency-changed-the-league-more-than-the-money-teams-had/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [A mission is not just a casual thing-it is not an alternative program in the Church. Neither is a mission a matter of choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/a-mission-is-not-just-a-casual-thing-it-is-not-an-alternative-program/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual freedom, for man's free agency is a God-given gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/as-precious-as-life-itself-is-our-heritage-of-individual-freedom-for/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [There's obviously different roads you can go down. And I think if you study it, how teams are built - and I went through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-thibodeau/there-s-obviously-different-roads-you-can-go-down-and-i-think-if-you/) [Tom Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-thibodeau/) > [I believe very firmly in the principle of free agency - people making their own decisions and doing what they think is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-very-firmly-in-the-principle-of-free-agency-people-making/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [You are free to choose what you want to make of your life. It's called free agency or free will, and it's your birthright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/you-are-free-to-choose-what-you-want-to-make-of-your-life-it-s-called/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [Every player looks forward to free agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/every-player-looks-forward-to-free-agency/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) [Browse all 78 Free agency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-agency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To get what we want we must be subtle as snakes; more deadly, more cunning, more patient, more mean. Think of the serpent, how it slithers through the garden. It's such a beautiful creature, slow and delicate, rarely seen but effective, low, and not loved, but gloriously efficient! The serpent is now our model; we must pattern our work after him. So go to your old friends and stand by their sides. Pretend you want to help them while whispering deceits in their ears. Only lie when you have to. Speak the truth when you can; for the truth, once it's twisted, is the most effective tool we have. Coat your lies with enough truth, and they will swallow it down. Now listen to me, people, for this is the key - evil can be twisted into virtue if you phrase it just right. Any vice is acceptable if you cloak it as an issue of freedom. Any immorality is worth fighting for it you tell them they are fighting for choice, if you wrap it in the mantle of privacy and freedom. So take their moral agency and turn it on them. 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